European gambling and online poker companies may withdrawal the U.S market voluntarily if the European body accepts a deal that opens other markets to foreign companies as compensation. It seems that the European delegation sent to negotiate with the U.S drop their pants, blowing European online gaming companies when they accepted a U.S. offer that will open other market as compensation for shutting the U.S. gambling market. A speaker and representative of the online gaming and poker groups in Europe said the announcement was a disappointment. European companies expected more than a slap of their faces after they have lost billions when they had to step out of the U.S market due the government’s restrictions. Companies such as Party Poker, MansionPoker.com, Pacific Poker and more had consistent reductions in their profits after the firms were pushed out of the U.S market to avoid any legal situations.
The main attorney representing Antigua before the WTO, declared that he still hoping for a ruling on that issue before the WTO closes down next week for holidays. "Nobody in Antigua really wanted our claim to be overshadowed by the EU," he said. About a year ago, the U.S Congress set up a series of restrictions on Internet gambling, making illegal for banks and credit card companies to make related to online gambling, gaming or poker activities. In May, Washington said commitments it made as part of a 1994 WTO deal excluded online gambling, starting a chain reaction among countries which economies were affected and that started to look for compensations.
"A bilateral agreement was signed in Geneva, which provides EU service suppliers with new trade opportunities in the U.S. postal and courier, research and development, storage and warehouse sectors," the European Commission declared in a statement. "The U.S. also made concessions in the testing and analysis services sector," the commission said, adding that it would still try to dissuade the United States from discriminating against foreign operators. The United States is also looking to persuade India, Costa Rica and Macao to take similar deals, but those countries have the option over the next 45 days to ask for World Trade Organization arbitration.
"We continue to believe that it is better to regulate than to prohibit, because the reality shows that the prohibition only drives out the transparent, listed operators," said an European representative related to one of the largest online gaming companies in the old continent.
(c) Dave Zamzack
